Part of a weekly series of editorials written by West Hollywood’s leaders.
By Nick Rimedio
With the announcement made by the CDC on Thursday stating that fully vaccinated people are not required to wear masks indoors or practice social distancing (with specific exceptions such as healthcare and transportation settings) in advance of a June 15 reopening by the state, the time has come to prepare for a post-COVID world.
As Chair of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and West Hollywood Design District, I applaud the many efforts of our city staff and council over the last fourteen months as they have taken great strides in protecting our community through the unprecedented perils of the pandemic.
Now, we must turn the page in search of the blueprint for our Road to Recovery which will contain the what and the how as we endeavor to build our greater tomorrows in the days ahead while protecting the legacy and incomparable identity that makes West Hollywood such a special city.
So, what does our post-COVID world look like in West Hollywood?
I have some ideas, as do our city leaders, though the real answer lies within all of you. We need to strengthen our engagement with transparent and open discussion amongst all of our stakeholders from our residents to our business community.
There are existing and new forums alike, from our commissions and committees to the Chamber, our BIDS, and our travel and tourism board, where we can connect to define our biggest areas of need and opportunity.
There are obvious needs like continuing our social services for our most vulnerable populations, protecting our residents and businesses from the recent surges in crime, the ongoing struggles of homelessness, and last but not least, reviving our economy.
With all of those being said, I know that there are other ideas out there which need to be heard, so I suggest that more city-sponsored outreach occur through a series of focus groups that can be scheduled over 30 days to solicit your feedback for our Road to Recovery.
With so many needs on the Roadmap, the next logical answer must include the how in which we plan to pay for the existing needs as well as the new ones.
The short answer is our economy.
In 2019, Hotel Taxes & Assessments, Sales Taxes, and Business Taxes accounted for approximately 64% of all city revenues, generating $56 million dollars compared to the $41 million forecasted today.
With the devastating near collapse of the business sector last year, combined with the continuing difficulties this year, we now have significant municipal deficits that will need to eventually be paid back to the city’s reserves.
Repayment will require cutting expenses (such as city staff, and/or reducing financial support for municipal and social programs) and/or generating surpluses through increases in revenue. I wholeheartedly believe that surpluses are our solution, and that strong focus from our council should be spent on how the city can support our businesses and hotels to yield those variable taxes driven by our visitors.
I suggest that we charge the Small Business Task Force with a directive to explore how we can increases revenues this year as well as the years ahead. With that focus and support for businesses, combined with strong city council leadership, we can generate surpluses that can continue if not exceed our current levels of services for our residents and most vulnerable populations- which is exactly where we need to be on this Road to Recovery.
In conclusion, I believe that the Road to Recovery will entail a great deal of hard work and meaningful discourse; it can also be a fun opportunity to bring us back together to join in West Hollywood’s future!
We need to have more focused dialogue and collaboration to ensure all stakeholders are represented, and to support our businesses to generate the tax revenues needed to protect our city and social services. These are truly uncharted waters unlike any other previous recession, so this Recovery will contain unknowns and turbulence which is precisely why we will need to work together.
The last year has proven that we need each other more than we ever knew, and I am excited for the chance to join you in the conversation and journey ahead of us. Please stay tuned for more to come!
Nick Rimedio is a seasoned hospitality veteran bringing twenty-five years of industry experience as the General Manager of La Peer Hotel. Beginning as a restaurant busser and dishwasher, Nick’s career took him from his hometown of Akron, Ohio to Chicago, Las Vegas, Napa, and now West Hollywood where he has worked over the last 8 years. In his second term as Chair of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce as well as the West Hollywood Design District, Rimedio also serves as Secretary of the West Hollywood Travel & Tourism Board, Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and on Forbes Travel’s Standards Advisory Committee which is an international board of twenty hoteliers.
Back when I was co-chair of the LGAB, we used to hold a series of forums on different subjects, spirituality, gay marriage, AIDS, etc.
They were great opportunities for the people of Weho to get together and discuss issues pertinent to the LGBTQ community.
I think you need to do the same. People don’t go to regularly scheduled meetings, and unless you belong to one of these organizations, you’re not likely to be aware of their events.
Perhaps the Chamber in coordination with the city could hold a general forum so that more people can attend.
Nick should fight harder on behalf of weho businesses not virtue signal about social services.
I think Nick has demonstrated that he has some great insights and should be on whatever committee with be hiring the next City Manager. While I have great faith in the City’s long term economic health, we are long over due for a zero based budget process in order to rationalize our spending as well as a hard look at our organization at City Hall to make sure we are getting value for our tax dollars. The City Council seems to lack any sort of overriding vision at the moment and we seem to be spending money randomly on feel… Read more »
There appears to be an absence of insight and responsible demonstration of strategy. Apologies for using a metaphor but here we are involved in “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”.
Primary to the City Manager position would Wehoville kindly articulate the
requirements and exactly what individuals are instrumental in the hiring process?
As with so many truths, this truth will likely be hidden from the public. Also, bet City Council is going to go with a yes man, since that makes their lives easier. Prediction: an inside incompetento will have the job handed to him. And he, in turn, will promote other cronies. So it goes.
I would strongly encourage you to call into the special closed session tonight (5/17) at 5:15pm to discuss item #5, the City Manager position. You need to make a request to speak (email mcrowder@weho.org) by 4pm today. Do not assume that there will be any fair process or public committees prior to city council’s selection. Also, there is no interim city manager position, only permanent hire. What they pick is what WeHo will get.
Now it’s the Chamber of Commerce citing continued social service programs addressing West Hollywood’s homeless problem (crisis). Again, no mention of what those programs are, how to contact those services and what those services are currently doing for our homelessness issue. Lip service and shadow boxing.
I ask the Chamber to stop driving to and from engagements and WALK through West Hollywood on a daily basis. Get a real perspective of the homeless crisis here. Get real.
cut taxes…..reduce staff and services.
They cut services before staff is what is happening NOW!
When you’re paying a city manager half a million dollars a year (can be found on Transparent California), it’s obvious where the cuts to city staff should start. At the top. Unfortunately, city council will NEVER have the guts to weed out their buddies.
Does the CC determine wages?
That is an excellent question. How are the wages determined and who determines them and on what basis?
If we can’t get a competent person for less, there is something wrong!
Keep in mind the adage “you get what you pay for”. Unless you’ve done the job yourself, how do you know what constitutes “competence”?
Why are person’s no longer putting names to their articles?
This article is by Nick Remedio, he is a contributor.